Favorite Movie and TV Santas

Christmas specials, whether as a show or a movie sometimes has a character dressing up as the familiar holiday icon with a red coat and hat, and from one childhood to another it would add to the charm of celebrating Christmas, so today I'll be looking at some hand picked specials showing some of my favorite costumed Santas.

5. Fred Flintstone (A Flintstone Christmas, 1977)

Fred's preparations for Christmas becomes the experience of a lifetime as he not only has to dress as old Saint Nick to impress a group of kids for Mr. Slate, but also confronts the real Santa himself and takes over for sending presents in one night. Much like its later Christmas special, A Flintstones Christmas Carol it re-aired several times during Cartoon Network's heyday.

4. Tim Allen (The Santa Clause, 1994)

While we were getting used to seeing Tim as "Tim 'The Toolman' Taylor" on network television, he took the role of disgruntled dad Scott Calvin learning to spend more time with his son, but also taking on the responsibility of a modern day Santa. Personally I find the original movie to be the best as it handles the more serious and emotional moments better.

3. William Shatner (A Very Merry Eek's-mas, 1993)

One of the few celebrity voices featured on Eek! the Cat, Shatner takes the role of Santa as he helps Eek and Sharky the sharkdog find Sharky's family and save Christmas, but with Santa's elves going on strike their journey becomes more of a challenge. It originally aired as a prime-time special.

2. Chevy Chase (National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, 1989)

While not exactly donning the outfit, Clark Griswold tries to keep his cool during the family gathering wearing the hat, that is until he learns that his expectations for a vacation bonus goes up in smoke as he explodes in a rant and immediately turns as white as a ghost while his boss is dragged into the household tied up, but admitting that he was upset about not getting his bonus. In the end it all works out, and the Griswold home lights up as Clark's day turns out for the better.

1. John Goodman (Futurama, 1999)

It's not everyday you hear about a malfunctioning yet dangerous robot Santa that kills regardless of being naughty or nice, and his sights are set on Fry and Leela once sundown hits. Zoidberg manages to save them but the robot Santa survives, hinting at a future Christmas episode. This was probably the best way to end my Christmas childhood as 1997 was the year that my parents admitted the truth to there being no Santa, so it was fun seeing a more destructive Santa Claus as the '90s came to a close.

What are your favorite Santa Clauses in TV? Comment below and as always, see you next article!

I really liked the Santa in Santa Clause The Movie. Even though it was like extremely commercialized (It was practically a McDonald's commercial), I loved the first half hour of it where we learn his origin story. The rest was OK, but I always thought it was odd that Santa didn't bring Joe back with him that FIRST Christmas, I mean..he KNEW Joe was homeless LOL